South West · Unitary authority
Cornwall motoring statistics
How many cars and electric cars are registered in Cornwall, which fuels they use, how many public chargers there are and how Cornwall compares with the South West. From DVLA licensing records, DfT charger statistics and ONS population estimates.
- Licensed cars 321,993 +1.0% on a year earlier
- Private cars per 1,000 people 528 UK 444
- Battery electric cars 9,645 3.0% of cars (UK 5.8%)
- Electric share of private cars 2.5% 90th lowest of 361 councils
- Public chargers 1,372 235 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
- Company-registered cars 4.4% UK 10.0%
How many cars are there in Cornwall?
There were 321,993 licensed cars in Cornwall at the end of June 2026, and 440,233 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 18.9% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 528 for every 1,000 residents, 108th highest of 361 councils (UK 444).
Licensed vehicles in Cornwall
Counts at the end of March each year, 2010 to 2026.
| Year | All vehicles | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 350,211 | 270,713 |
| 2011 | 353,102 | 272,372 |
| 2012 | 355,203 | 273,358 |
| 2013 | 359,489 | 276,676 |
| 2014 | 367,737 | 282,410 |
| 2015 | 371,488 | 284,903 |
| 2016 | 379,236 | 289,809 |
| 2017 | 388,799 | 295,889 |
| 2018 | 393,589 | 298,245 |
| 2019 | 400,834 | 302,073 |
| 2020 | 398,561 | 300,733 |
| 2021 | 414,882 | 308,901 |
| 2022 | 420,180 | 310,065 |
| 2023 | 425,050 | 312,265 |
| 2024 | 429,791 | 315,284 |
| 2025 | 435,438 | 318,827 |
| 2026 | 440,233 | 321,993 |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Licensed vehicles by type
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Cars per 1,000 residents
All licensed cars at the end of June, divided by the ONS mid-year population. Company fleets registered locally push this up.
| Year | Cornwall | South West | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 510 | 524 | – |
| 2012 | 509 | 527 | – |
| 2013 | 512 | 533 | – |
| 2014 | 519 | 541 | – |
| 2015 | 521 | 546 | 473 |
| 2016 | 526 | 550 | 480 |
| 2017 | 531 | 565 | 488 |
| 2018 | 533 | 569 | 490 |
| 2019 | 536 | 580 | 493 |
| 2020 | 532 | 573 | 489 |
| 2021 | 540 | 575 | 493 |
| 2022 | 539 | 571 | 489 |
| 2023 | 539 | 570 | 489 |
| 2024 | 541 | 571 | 490 |
Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated
Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Cornwall
51.2% of cars in Cornwall run on petrol and 38.5% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 44.6% in 2020. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 5.8%, and cars that plug in 4.2%.
Cars by fuel type
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Fuel mix over time
Share of licensed cars at the end of March each year.
| Year | Petrol | Diesel | Hybrid | Battery electric | Plug-in hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 66.8% | 32.9% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 64.8% | 34.9% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2012 | 62.9% | 36.8% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 61.1% | 38.6% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2014 | 59.2% | 40.4% | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| 2015 | 57.6% | 41.9% | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| 2016 | 56.3% | 43.2% | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 55.2% | 44.1% | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 54.6% | 44.5% | 0.5% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2019 | 54.4% | 44.5% | 0.6% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| 2020 | 54.1% | 44.6% | 0.7% | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| 2021 | 53.6% | 44.4% | 1.1% | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| 2022 | 53.0% | 43.9% | 1.7% | 0.8% | 0.4% |
| 2023 | 52.8% | 43.0% | 2.2% | 1.2% | 0.5% |
| 2024 | 52.3% | 42.0% | 3.2% | 1.5% | 0.7% |
| 2025 | 51.8% | 40.4% | 4.4% | 2.2% | 0.9% |
| 2026 | 51.2% | 38.5% | 5.8% | 3.0% | 1.2% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Electric cars in Cornwall
9,645 battery electric cars were licensed in Cornwall at the end of June 2026, 3.0% of all cars, 71st lowest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 13,553 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 6,903.
Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.5% are battery electric (7,682 cars), 7th lowest of 27 councils in the South West. Companies keep 20.4% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 4.4% of its cars overall. There are also 623 battery electric vans.
Battery electric share of licensed cars
End of March each year. Fleet re-registrations can move a single area’s line sharply.
| Year | Cornwall | South West | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2019 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| 2020 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 0.4% |
| 2021 | 0.5% | 1.2% | 0.8% |
| 2022 | 0.8% | 2.3% | 1.5% |
| 2023 | 1.2% | 3.5% | 2.3% |
| 2024 | 1.5% | 4.4% | 3.2% |
| 2025 | 2.2% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| 2026 | 3.0% | 5.2% | 5.8% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Public EV chargers in Cornwall
There were 1,372 public chargers in Cornwall on 1 July 2026, 264 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 235 for every 100,000 residents, 60th highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 5.1% from 1 January 2026.
For every public charger there are 8.1 privately kept plug-in cars in Cornwall (UK 12.9), 53rd fewest of 361 councils. A higher number means more competition for each public charger, though many drivers charge at home.
Public chargers
| Date | All public chargers | 50kW and above |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2026 | 1,305 | 257 |
| Apr 2026 | 1,331 | 250 |
| Jul 2026 | 1,372 | 264 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Chargers per 100,000 residents
| Area | All chargers | 50kW and above |
|---|---|---|
| Cornwall | 235 | 45 |
| South West | 157 | 50 |
| England | 173 | 41 |
| UK | 175 | 42 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Electric cars by neighbourhood
Cornwall has 73 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 1.9% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 3.7%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.
| Neighbourhood (MSOA) | Private vehicles | Battery electric | Electric share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cornwall 056 | 4,902 | 179 | 3.7% | |
| Cornwall 047 | 7,358 | 267 | 3.6% | |
| Cornwall 066 | 7,937 | 258 | 3.3% | |
| Cornwall 044 | 3,531 | 110 | 3.1% | |
| Cornwall 022 | 4,508 | 131 | 2.9% | |
| Cornwall 033 | 4,663 | 133 | 2.9% | |
| Cornwall 048 | 6,363 | 187 | 2.9% | |
| Cornwall 040 | 6,727 | 188 | 2.8% | |
| Cornwall 064 | 5,170 | 143 | 2.8% | |
| Cornwall 063 | 3,016 | 80 | 2.7% | |
| Lowest electric shares | ||||
| Cornwall 029 | 2,969 | 17 | 0.6% | |
| Cornwall 068 | 2,789 | 24 | 0.9% | |
| Cornwall 067 | 4,328 | 45 | 1.0% | |
| Cornwall 046 | 4,925 | 49 | 1.0% | |
| Cornwall 055 | 4,915 | 58 | 1.2% | |
Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of June 2026. 2 neighbourhoods are left out because DfT withholds small counts there.
Road traffic and collisions in Cornwall
Vehicles travelled an estimated 3,665 million miles on roads in Cornwall in 2025.
Traffic on all roads
| Year | Million vehicle miles |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 2,184 |
| 1994 | 2,254 |
| 1995 | 2,299 |
| 1996 | 2,346 |
| 1997 | 2,421 |
| 1998 | 2,456 |
| 1999 | 2,456 |
| 2000 | 2,495 |
| 2001 | 2,586 |
| 2002 | 2,711 |
| 2003 | 2,814 |
| 2004 | 2,834 |
| 2005 | 2,881 |
| 2006 | 2,959 |
| 2007 | 2,960 |
| 2008 | 3,075 |
| 2009 | 3,069 |
| 2010 | 3,058 |
| 2011 | 3,056 |
| 2012 | 3,003 |
| 2013 | 3,007 |
| 2014 | 3,065 |
| 2015 | 3,127 |
| 2016 | 3,288 |
| 2017 | 3,482 |
| 2018 | 3,469 |
| 2019 | 3,553 |
| 2020 | 2,780 |
| 2021 | 3,173 |
| 2022 | 3,389 |
| 2023 | 3,487 |
| 2024 | 3,548 |
| 2025 | 3,665 |
Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated
Reported injury collisions
| Year | Collisions | Killed or seriously injured |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 978 | 221 |
| 2022 | 1,012 | 265 |
| 2023 | 1,000 | 263 |
| 2024 | 941 | 211 |
| 2025 | 920 | 188 |
Source:DfT STATS19,UK Motoring analysis 2021 to 2025 Updated
Petrol and diesel prices in Cornwall
Unleaded petrol averages 172.0p a litre across 53 filling stations in Cornwall, 0.5p above the UK average. Diesel averages 199.5p, 0.8p above the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.
Cheapest petrol
- Murco Hatt Service Station Saltash 165.9p
- Asda Falmouth Superstore Penryn 166.9p
- Esso MFG Falmouth Falmouth 166.9p
How Cornwall compares
| Cornwall | 528 | 3.0% | 235 |
|---|---|---|---|
| South West | 509 | 5.2% | 157 |
| England | 440 | 6.2% | 173 |
| United Kingdom | 444 | 5.8% | 175 |
Private cars per 1,000 people use the ONS mid-2024 population. Chargers are counted at the latest date; plug-in cars at the end of June 2026.
Driving test centres in Cornwall
There are 4 DVSA car practical test centres in Cornwall, and the highest pass rate in 2025/26 was 47.5% at Bodmin.
- Bodmin 47.5% pass rate, 2025/26
- Penzance 46.6% pass rate, 2025/26
- Launceston 46.3% pass rate, 2025/26
- Camborne 40.7% pass rate, 2025/26
Other centres in the South West:
- Isles of Scilly 75.0% pass rate, 2025/26
- Dorchester 69.0% pass rate, 2025/26
- Yeovil 63.4% pass rate, 2025/26
- Weston-super-Mare 61.0% pass rate, 2025/26
DVSA publishes pass rates by centre name, with no address, so centres are placed here by the place name in the name DVSA uses. See pass rates at every test centre.
Councils in the South West
Sorted by battery electric share of cars. Select a column heading to sort by it.
| South Gloucestershire | 523 | 18.8% | 162 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wiltshire | 556 | 8.9% | 117 |
| Exeter | 357 | 5.2% | 259 |
| Stroud | 589 | 4.6% | 199 |
| Tewkesbury | 567 | 4.5% | 157 |
| North Somerset | 549 | 4.3% | 107 |
| Bath and North East Somerset | 450 | 4.2% | 90 |
| Cotswold | 606 | 4.2% | 310 |
| Cheltenham | 466 | 3.9% | 272 |
| South Hams | 572 | 3.9% | 145 |
| Swindon | 471 | 3.8% | 138 |
| Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | 475 | 3.4% | 112 |
| Dorset | 576 | 3.4% | 196 |
| East Devon | 546 | 3.4% | 200 |
| Forest of Dean | 581 | 3.4% | 194 |
| Gloucester | 465 | 3.3% | 149 |
| Teignbridge | 551 | 3.3% | 147 |
| Isles of Scilly | 238 | 3.2% | 676 |
| Mid Devon | 562 | 3.1% | 91 |
| Somerset | 560 | 3.1% | 137 |
| West Devon | 564 | 3.1% | 178 |
| Bristol | 362 | 3.0% | 99 |
| Cornwall | 528 | 3.0% | 235 |
| North Devon | 518 | 2.7% | 208 |
| Torbay | 469 | 2.6% | 97 |
| Torridge | 555 | 2.6% | 107 |
| Plymouth | 426 | 2.2% | 162 |
Data stories to read next
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed vehicles | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 440,233 licensed vehicles in Cornwall | 26 October 2026 |
| Plug-in and electric vehicles | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 14,502 plug-in vehicles | 26 October 2026 |
| Public chargers | Electric vehicle public charging infrastructure statistics Department for Transport | 1 July 2026 | 121,171 public chargers (UK) | 26 October 2026 |
| Population | Mid-year population estimates Office for National Statistics | Mid-2024 | 404 areas | 26 October 2026 |
| Neighbourhoods | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 35,672 small areas (LSOAs) in England and Wales | 26 October 2026 |
- Coverage: licensing and charger figures cover the whole UK. Licensing figures in Cornwall run from the end of 2009.
- Vehicles are counted at the registered keeper’s postcode: for company cars that is the company’s address, not where the car is driven.
- Battery electric and plug-in counts come from table VEH0142; petrol, diesel and hybrid counts from VEH0105. “Other fuels” is VEH0105’s other-fuel count less plug-in cars.
- Charger counts are based on Zapmap data and are official statistics in development. In June 2026 one operator removed about 1,270 private chargers wrongly listed as public, so April and July are not strictly comparable.
- Neighbourhood figures cover England and Wales only; Scottish data zones and Northern Irish super data zones cannot be placed in councils without lookups we do not hold.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.